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{
    "id": 1549371,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1549371/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 87,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "The chiefs in Baringo are becoming easy target of criminals and bandits in that region. They have actually become easy targets of criminal attacks everywhere. They, therefore, must be protected at all costs. We must provide them with schemes of service for them to discharge their duties without fear or favour. I am happy that with the amendment of the law, the assistant chiefs and chiefs have now been assigned administration police officers for easy enforcement. People go to see the chiefs for marital problems, land issues, cultural differences, and they are normally present. Secondly, we need to look into the case of the Nyumba Kumi leaders because they ensure that there is peace. The other day, in Kwale or Kilifi, there were machete wielding criminal gangs. This happens in many areas. I want to ride on this Statement and state that we must include the village elders. It is not enough to give them stipend. Those village elders are very critical. I appeal to the Ministry of Interior and National Administration that they should not include academic qualifications. The only academic qualification the village elders need is to understand the cultural norms and behavior of a community. Those village elders have become the cornerstone of the rule of law and order within the community. We do not even need to know whether the village elders went to school or not. If one wants to become a village elder in Sen. Wambua’s village, all they need is to be above 40 years old, married and have an understanding of the local culture of the place. If they fit that criteria, then they should be given the job and paid. It is not right to ask the village elders to have academic qualifications. This is because we have brilliant fools in this country. There are many brilliant fools in this country who cannot do a quarter of what our village elders are doing. We should make the stipend to village elders a salary. We should also give them an office, beck and call of administration police officers to ensure they enforce the law. When we do that, they will assist on marital issues, cultural differences and they will also assist track criminals within our society. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I support this Statement and hope that the scheme of service for assistant chiefs, chiefs, village elders, and Nyumba Kumi leaders are well factored in for the protection of societal order within our villages, locations, and even within our counties. I thank you."
}